aloittelijan opas, ikea kallaxin maalausohje.
Posted by Frenchic Admin

Ikea's Kallax - easy painting instructions for beginners

Transform your IKEA KALLAX furniture into a striking designer piece, a beginner's painting guide

On this site, we share techniques, tips, and ideas to help you give your home a luxurious, personal look on a small budget. Sometimes all it takes is a coat of paint to create a fresh new atmosphere. 

Creative DIY projects and upcycled interiors are within everyone's reach: all you need are the right tools, a little Frenchic paint, and a “Can do” attitude!

1. Why choose an IKEA KALLAX as a painting project? 

The IKEA KALLAX shelving unit is an ideal starting point for a DIY painting project. Its clean lines and durable construction provide the perfect “blank canvas” for a personal touch.

Whether you're after a new storage solution, a bar cabinet, or a modern wall shelf, painting a KALLAX shelf or other piece of laminate furniture can transform it into a practical and stylish piece on a budget.

With these instructions, you can create a small or larger 'built-in'-style furniture unit and finish the installation by painting everything for a cohesive look. 

Painted Ikea KALLAX.

2. Start here: Cleaning and sanding the surface are important steps in preparing smooth laminate furniture

  1. Cleaning: Wash dirt and grease off the surface with Sugar Soap or a similar powerful degreaser. This removes dust, dirt, and greasy fingerprints. Finally, wipe the cleaning product off the IKEA furniture surface with clean water.

  2. Drying: Let the surface dry completely. If the KALLAX is new and unused, still wash it and roughen the surface. 

  3. Sanding: Use 120-grit sandpaper for a light “micro-sanding” - roughening the surface. The aim is to make the surface slightly rough and dull so the paint has the best possible adhesion. A power sander is fast, but the job can also be done by hand with a sanding sponge or sandpaper. 

  4. Dust removal: Wipe away sanding dust with a damp cloth before painting.

3. Choosing a color – the hardest and loveliest stage! Your KALLAX can be painted in your favorite shade.

The Frenchic range includes four paint collections suitable for painting KALLAX: each collection has its own shades, sheen level, and tin sizes. 

  1. Al Fresco, matte. 250ml and 750ml
  2. Lazy Range, matte. 250ml and 750ml
  3. Trim Paint, satin. 500ml
  4. Wall paint, ultra-matte. 2.5 liters.
Choosing a paint color for interior design.

Shade suggestions: 

4. Tools and supplies for painting Ikea furniture

  • Sugar Soap detergent
  • Brush - size S and a small TFB roller
  • 120- and 240-grit sanding tools
  • Your chosen Frenchic paint (Al Fresco, Lazy or Trim Paint)
  • Tuff Topcoat or Finishing Coat (protective and finishing coat)
  • Filler or similar Fussy Filla filler, if filling scratches or screw holes before painting. 

5. Painting techniques – an even finish without drips on laminate

  1. First coat of paint or primer: Apply a thin, even coat. Less paint → fewer splashes and streaks. Choose a grey primer if there is a big difference between the base color and the selected shade (e.g. from black to white, etc.). Let the coat dry according to the instructions. Let it dry according to the instructions. 

  2. Light sanding between coats, if desired: Sand lightly with 240-grit sandpaper after about an hour of drying. Remove dust with a damp cloth.

  3. Second and, if needed, third coat: Thanks to the paint's “self-levelling” properties, it levels out beautifully as it dries. 

  4. Drying time between coats: check the instructions for the range you're using or the side of the paint tin, and follow them. 

6. Drying the paint and protecting the painted surface of the KALLAX shelf 

  • Let the furniture rest for 24 hours without handling or using it, and

  • You can apply the Finishing Coat only after 48 hours

  • Protective layer: Use a matte Tuff Top Coat or Finishing Coat for a light sheen. Apply 2-4 thin coats and let them dry according to the instructions. Applying the finishing coat is easy and quick with a roller or sponge. 

7. Finishing touches and ideas for customizing your KALLAX unit

  • Wow factor: Fit a wooden top to the unit; glue it and screw it through the wooden top onto the KALLAX - or add stylish sliding rails and turn the unit into a unique wardrobe.

  • Use tape to mark off the dry painted surface, then paint cheerful stripes or the shelf fronts in a new shade - a little extra effort is worth it: you've created your own designer piece of furniture! 

  • Decorating: Add a houseplant and a few stylish storage baskets. Small details bring life and practicality to the space.

8. Encouragement for home painters 

Painting a KALLAX shelving unit is a great DIY project that gives your furniture a completely new look. With careful preparation, high-quality Frenchic Paint paint, and the right techniques, you'll be sure to succeed when painting any piece of furniture. 

Share your KALLAX makeover on Instagram – tag us - let's inspire each other!

Painted Ikea KALLAX.